Page 56 of Any Second Now
I glance back down at my cross-stitch and complete the final few stitches. I tighten the hoop and grin at the final result, so I hold it up and snap a picture to send to Lucy and January.
Lucy
Sis—are you at the Blizzard arena??
Me
No comment on the hoop?
Lucy
Okay, I’ll play your game. It’s gorgeous, and I want one, but can you make mine about hockey and not zombies?
Me
Sure
Lucy
Now that we got that out of the way… What are you doing there? Are you watching Atticus practice?
Well, shit, that wasn’t subtle at all. Not that I meant it to be, but I hadn’t exactly planned on telling them I was coming here.
Me
It’s just getting me out of the house, er, the RV
January
Perfectly reasonable to take your cross-stitch project to a professional hockey arena to watch your best friend’s little brother practice
I scrunch my nose and look up from my phone. January’s got a point.
Me
When you put it like that, it does sound a bit ridiculous
Lucy
Kellen just judged you hard when I told him
Me
Can’t we have secrets between friends?
Lucy
Does Kellen count?
Me
Traitor
Wait—did Atticus say something to him?
I cringe and turn my phone over on my lap. My last text is giving middle schooldoes he like mevibes.
On the ice, Atticus is taking slow, graceful strides toward the coaches. As if he feels my gaze, he turns and looks right at me. A smile crosses his face that turns him into a complete and utter cinnamon roll with gooey sweet icing. He lifts a hand to me, and I raise mine back. My heart basically ceases beating for a moment,then catches up when he stops in front of the coaches with Lachlan.
